Inertia sensitive snap switch



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INERTIA SENSITIVE SNAP SWITCH Filed June 21, 1960 INVENTORS JOSEPH J. KALEBA BY FREDEJMQK R CK \4 ATTORNEY tween washer 46 on shaft 30 and the bracket 12 and the United States Patent 3,066,202 INERTIA SENSITIVE SNAP SWITCH Joseph J. Kaleba, Roselle. and Frederick R. Beck, Maywood, 111.. assignors to Controls Company of America, Schiller Park. Ill., a corporation of Delaware Filed June 21, 1960, Ser. No. 37,646 4 Claims. (Cl. 200-61.5)

This invention relates to an inertia sensitive device particularly for sensing objectionable vibrations in rotating devices.

Washing machines, particularly of the horizontal type, are subject to objectionable vibrations due to an unbalancing of the clothes within the rotating drum. At high rotational speeds, these vibrations can cause considerable damage to the machine if the machine is not turned off. In the horizontal type machines, there is no convenient point to mount a simple snap switch to sense these vibrations since the vibration may occur in any horizontal or vertical direction.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a simple mechanism for detecting objectionable vibrations in machines.

Other objects and advantages will be pointed out in, or be apparent from, the specification and claims, as will obvious modifications of the single embodiment shown in the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevation partly in section of the switch.

FIG. 2 is similar to FIG. 1 with the snap switch thrown.

FIG. 3 is taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 1 showing the reset button construction.

The inertia sensitive mechanism includes a conventional type snap switch secured to bracket 12 by bolts 14 and having a single blade 16 normally biased to engage upper, fixed contact 17 by compressed band spring 18 acting downward on tongue 20. The switch is connected in series through the blade and contact 17 with a washing machine motor. The blade is snapped into engagement with contact 19 opening the motor circuit by the upward motion of trip plunger 22 moving tongue 20 upward compressing spring 18 so that the force of the spring on the blade will reverse and snap the blade downward when the tongue is moved over center. Reset button 21 is provided with stub shaft 26, which projects into aperture 28 in the upper end of trip plunger to provide a lost motion connection between the reset plunger and the trip plunger. Flanges 25 and 27 limit the upward and downward motion of the reset plunger and the trip plunger, respectively.

The lower end of the trip plunger is conically shaped to cooperate with conical indentation 29 provided in the upper end of the pivot member 34 which is provided with a spherical portion seating in spherical socket 32 to support pendulum rod 30 in a ball and socket type pivot. The pendulum rod 30 carries weight 38 so the weight can swing in any direction. Spring 40 is compressed becompression can be adjusted to vary the sensitivity of l l U the pendulum to vibrations by adjusting nut 42 and lock nut 44.

The device may be positionedin any location within 3,066,202 Patented Nov. 27, 1962 the washing machine housing, preferably where it can be conveniently reached for resetting. The pendulum tends to remain at rest (in space) and since the bracket is fixed to the machine, the vibration of the machine will cause the bracket to move relative to the pendulum. When the horizontal amplitude of motion becomes great enough, the elfect will be as if the pendulum rocked to cam plunger 22 upwardly to trip switch 10 and interrupt power to the machine. If the vibration is vertical, the effect will be as if the pendulum moved up to push plunger 22 up to trip the switch. The switch requires resetting. Contact 19 could be left open or placed in an alarm circuit.

Although but a single embodiment of the present invention has been illustrated and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention or from the scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. An inertia sensitive device comprising, a housing, switch means mounted in the housing normally biased in a circuit closing direction, means for tripping the switch in a circuit opening direction in response to vibrations in the housing of a predetermined amplitude, said tripping means including a plunger limited to axial motion, said plunger having a conical end member, a pendulum movable in any direction relative to the housing and having a conical indentation operatively engaging the conical end member of the plunger, and an adjustable spring means controlling the movement of the pendulum relative to the housing whereby movements of the pendulum relative to the housing of a predetermined amplitude will move the plunger and trip the switch.

2. An inertia sensitive device comprising, a housing, switch means mounted in the housing normally biased in a circuit closing direction, means for tripping the switch in a circuit opening direction in response to vibrations in the housing of a predetermined amplitude, said tripping means including a plunger limited to axial motion and a pendulum movable in any direction relative to the housing and operatively engaging the plunger whereby movements of the pendulum relative to the housing of a predetermined amplitude will move the plunger and trip the switch, and reset means operatively engaging the plunger to reset the switch, said reset means including a lost motion connection for engaging the plunger.

3. An inertia sensitive device according to claim 2 wherein said plunger includes a conical end member which cooperates with a conical indentation in the pendulum to translate the lateral motions of the pendulum to axial movements in the plunger.

4. An inertia sensitive device according to claim 3 including an adjustable springs means for controlling the movement of the pendulum relative to the housing.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,176,770 Maught Oct. 17, 1939 2,768,256 Barecki et al Oct. 23, 1956 2,778,896 Tollefsen Jan. 22, 1957 2,783,321 Richardson Feb. 26, 1957 2,784,584 Worst Mar. 12, 1957 2,916,573 Loiselle Dec. 8, .1959 

